Obverse. Photo © NumisCorner.com
  • 1 Dollar 2012, KM# 238, Solomon Islands, Elizabeth II
  • 1 Dollar 2012, KM# 238, Solomon Islands, Elizabeth II
Description

The Solomon Islands comprise a double chain of seven large and more than thirty small islands, located just east of New Guinea. The islands were named in 1568 by the Spanish navigator Alvaro de Mendaña, who claimed that he had found the riches of King Solomon, or the biblical land of gold. Solomon Islands is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of Solomon Islands, currently Queen Elizabeth II, as its head of state.

Obverse

Fourth crowned portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth II facing right, wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara.

The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland tiara was a wedding present in 1947 from her grandmother, Queen Mary, who received it as a gift from the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland in 1893 on the occasion of her marriage to the Duke of York, later George V. Made by E. Wolfe & Co., it was purchased from Garrard & Co. by a committee organised by Lady Eve Greville. In 1914, Mary adapted the tiara to take 13 diamonds in place of the large oriental pearls surmounting the tiara. At first, Elizabeth wore the tiara without its base and pearls but the base was reattached in 1969. The Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara is one of Elizabeth's most recognisable pieces of jewellery due to its widespread use on British banknotes and coinage.

Engraver: Ian Rank-Broadley

ELIZABETH II SOLOMON ISLANDS
IRB
2012

Reverse

Depicts a statue of dangerous sea (fishing) spirits known as kesoko above value.

Similar statues were used as wooden canoe ornament attached to the bows of canoes just above the water line. It depicts a large head with circular ear ornaments and small arms with the hands raised to the chin and clasping a smaller head.

Kesoko was a known expert bonito fisherman and a skilled headhunter.

ONE DOLLAR

Edge

1 Dollar

4th portrait
KM# 238
Characteristics
Material Aluminium Bronze
Weight 7.77 g
Diameter 21 mm
Thickness 2.36 mm
Shape round
Alignment Medal
Mint
Royal Australian Mint (RAM)

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